Awareness Raising as an Important Component of FLEG II Program in Armenia

Support to environmental awareness and education is one of the priority areas for WWF-Armenia. Awareness raising and education activities are almost always present in the projects implemented by WWF-Armenia. The ENPI-FLEG I program (2008-2012) included a number of such activities, which were successful for dissemination of information about the value of forests in Armenia in terms of biodiversity and their importance also for supporting the livelihoods of local population. In particular, the map with the brochure Specially Protected Nature Areas and Forests of Armenia (in Armenian and English), the Guide on the Forest Legislation of the Republic of Armenia (in Armenian) and the book Non-Wood Forest Products of Northern Armenia (in Armenian) were prepared and published during the ENPI-FLEG I. They were widely disseminated among various audiences including state, non-state and educational organizations as well as civil society. In addition, WWF-Armenia organized workshops and trainings to introduce the publications. At present, after having the first phase of the project finalized, still there is demand of the publications in the society.

The second phase of FLEG will build on the successes of the first phase and continue awareness raising as contribution to the protection of forests in Armenia. In particular, there will be publications, workshops and trainings regarding the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity, high conservation value forests, value and importance of forests, use of non-wood forest products and others. The main target is to reduce unsustainable forest use through informing respective audiences about the role of forests for the environment and human development. The other components of the project will work on provision of alternative livelihoods to forest adjacent local communities to reduce the pressure on forest resources, analytical studies and pilot assessments, strengthening the network of forest protected areas in Armenia and others. Many of the activities are in the preparatory stage and some have already started.